Cinque Terre

[gazzagirl]

Hi hoping someone can help quick. We are cruising azamara next september and this is our first port. Just wondering if we should do a shore excursion or is this port something that you can do yourself. How easy to get around and make the most of our day. Or should we do a full day with the ship tour? Any information would be great. Thank you.

[euro cruiser]

If the port is La Spezia it's very easy to visit the villages of Cinque Terre on your own using either ferry boats or the train.

[gazzagirl]

I do not know, It says we are Tendered but does not say where we come in. I'm reading the shore excursion and it says the pier is 5 minutes roughly a 500-1000 yards from the city center.

[euro cruiser]

That would be La Spezia. It's an easy walk from the pier to the train station (three quarters of a mile), or to a ferry.

[euro cruiser]

Here is where you can find information on the ferries, keeping in mind that right now is off season so you won't find timetables yet: http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/home.asp?lang=eng

Edited December 28, 2013 by euro cruiser

[gazzagirl]

Ok great thank you! We will go on our own then no shore excursion. I read somewhere that there are trails for walking to all the villages is this true? And do you suggest we go that route? Can we walk easy to all the villages? Or take a train or boat and walk back?

[euro cruiser]

Yes, there are several different paths along the cliffs that connect the villages. Two of the most popular were closed last season after damage caused by mudslides, hopefully they will be open again before your trip.

 

The Cinque Terre is actually a national park, you can read more about it and about the hiking paths on the park web site here: http://www.parco****onale5terre.it/?id_lingue=2

[gazzagirl]

Thank you for all your help that is what we will do. I will check out those websites.

[cberge]

Ok great thank you! We will go on our own then no shore excursion. I read somewhere that there are trails for walking to all the villages is this true? And do you suggest we go that route? Can we walk easy to all the villages? Or take a train or boat and walk back?

 

You have plenty of time to do some reading re your ports..get some good guide books from the library and do some reading as it will really help you or just Google.

[gazzagirl]

Ok one more question, our brochure says we come into portovenere, Italy is that the same as La Sprezia? sorry about the spelling..

[euro cruiser]

It's not the same, but nearby, and actually it's even better for visiting the Cinque Terre as it's closer (when going to and from La Spezia/Cinque Terre by water you pass through Portovenere).

 

If you have time there's a great little church way out on the point at Portovenere; it's worth climbing up to see it if you can.

Edited December 29, 2013 by euro cruiser

[euro cruiser]

Attached is a picture I took at the church in Portovenere.

[kuldalai]

Arriving in Portovenere you will tender to the village . In season April to late October the ferry leaves for the Cinque Terre at 10am, 11am and 12 Noon.

Ferry goes along the coast calling at Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso . Total travel time is 75 minutes.

 

Monterosso has two halves Old and New joined by a shared pedestrian/road tunnel. Ferry arrives in old town, train station is in new town .

 

With a day you will only have time to do a quick exploration of Portovenere, then 10am ferry to Old Monterosso. Train up to Vernazza - lunch. Walk the coastal trail Vernazza - Corniglia. Train Corniglia - Manarola . Train Manarola - La Spezia. Then from La Spezia bus P to Portovenere from stop P in Via Garabaldi near Corso Cavour (30 minutes travel time). Buses leave the above stop at 25 and 55 minutes past the hour .

 

Of the Cinque Terre coastal paths only Corniglia - Vernazza (90 mins), and Vernazza - Monterosso (150 minutes) are currently open . Riomaggiore - Manarola (30 mins) Lovers Walk is due to re-open 2014, ditto Manarola - Corniglia (90 min) re open 2014 .

[gazzagirl]

Wow thank you everybody we can't wait. We will for sure go on our own instead of a shore excursion. Thank you for the tip on the little church we will check it out.

[maryann ns]

Absolutely go on your own. You can use a combination of ferries, trains and walking.

 

Be sure to see Corniglia, which is the least visited village and has a spectacular location. We went there by train and walked up the hill but there is apparently a shuttle bus.

[slidergirl]

If you do plan on doing the hiking trails, please be sure you have appropriate footwear for it. Rocks, tree roots, uneven dirt - not a place for flip flops or wedges! Also, be sure to bring a good amount of water to drink - the trails do get very hot to travel on unless you are on them first thing in the morning (which you won't be if you come from a ship)…

CT is another one of those wonderful places in the Med where there is no necessity for paying extra for a guide; it's a great DIY location.

[gazzagirl]

Thank you everybody for all the great advice. I will make sure to pack walking shoes.

[yvonneh]

Hi hoping someone can help quick. We are cruising azamara next september and this is our first port. Just wondering if we should do a shore excursion or is this port something that you can do yourself. How easy to get around and make the most of our day. Or should we do a full day with the ship tour? Any information would be great. Thank you.

 

We rented a car right at the port and drove to La Spezia. We parked at the train station and took the train CT. When we returned, we drove to go see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the drive was awesome through sunflower fields. It's not a plan for everyone, but we got to do and see so much in such a short time, it was awesome.

[Adventures ahead]

Absolutely go on your own. You can use a combination of ferries, trains and walking.

 

Be sure to see Corniglia, which is the least visited village and has a spectacular location. We went there by train and walked up the hill but there is apparently a shuttle bus.

 

 

We do private tours almost all of the time unless time at the destination would be compromised due to several transportation connections. We received a $200 excursion credit with our Med cruise next Sept so may use for Cinque Terre. We're docked in Livorno on a Sat from 7am to 7pm. The excursions for our cruise aren't posted yet but the Cinque Terre excursion is listed as 10 hours long on the website. It goes to Manarola, Vernazza and Monterossa al Mare.

 

Did you visit by cruise ship; if so, where were you docked? How much did you get to see in the time you had?

 

PS - Where in NS are you?

[milolii]

We do private tours almost all of the time unless time at the destination would be compromised due to several transportation connections. We received a $200 excursion credit with our Med cruise next Sept so may use for Cinque Terre. We're docked in Livorno on a Sat from 7am to 7pm. The excursions for our cruise aren't posted yet but the Cinque Terre excursion is listed as 10 hours long on the website. It goes to Manarola, Vernazza and Monterossa al Mare.

 

Did you visit by cruise ship; if so, where were you docked? How much did you get to see in the time you had?

 

PS - Where in NS are you?

 

I think the response was meant for a cruiser tendering at La Spenzia. That port is very close to portovenere . The NCL Spirit docks at Livorno; it is 1 hour and about 30 minutes from the port to Portoverne the first stop on the Cinque Terra and where you can pick up the train or the ferry. We took a private tour with papillonservice. This is because we wanted to go to Pisa as well. You are basically paying for the transportation to the beginning and end of the towns. Then the company picks you up at the other end of the Cinque Terra, at Monterosso. No need to double back. My guess is the ships tour bus does about the same thing. Papillonservice can be reached by adding the Dot com to the name.

 

We found others to share the tour cost with us, so took the private tour. Otherwise we would of taken the NCL tour. The Cinque Terra is beautiful.

 

 

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[carlsbadguy]

Would people recommend visiting this area on a cruise stop day or being able to spend more time and linger. We will be in Italy before our cruise and deciding where to visit before the cruise versus during the cruise.

[kuldalai]

If you can spare the time the Cinque Terre in Italy is one of the worlds most stunningly beautiful coastlines and well deserving of several days stay before or after a cruise.

 

Best to stay in La Spezia which is easily reached by train from Milano, Genova, Pisa, Firenze, Venezia, Roma or Civitavecchia.

 

We recommend Hotel Firenze & Continental right outside LA Spezia Central station. From there bus P to Portovenere, or regular trains to the five villages of the CT. CT Tourist Office on platform 1 for your combined CT. Daily Park Access/Train Passes.

[maryann ns]

The first time we went we stayed outside the CT and spent the day there. That was wonderful, but even better was last time when we stayed overnight in Vernazza in a room overlooking the main street and ate in a restaurant watching the sun set over the ocean.

[librarylady19]

We are also planning to visit this area after our cruise and appreciate all the great tips here!

 

. Be sure to check out Rick Steves show on Cinque Terre - it's one of his favorite places to visit! (I borrowed a copy of Rick Steves Italy DVD from my library)

Edited January 4, 2014 by librarylady19

[Cornishpastyman1]

On our day (14 October) we did this

 

The rain did cramp our style but it was still a very nice day. We took the 10 a.m. ferry, buying a one-way ticket (€10) as we didn't have enough time to go all the way to Monterosso and come back by sea. I think the return trip costs €15.

 

That train from Vernazza - La Spezia station costs about €2 and takes 12-15 minutes (from memory). From ship port to ferry dock is about half a mile, and from La Spezia train station back to the ship it's a 20-25 minute walk.

 

Hope you all have better weather when you go ! I could easily see why people rave about this area when the sun is shining. All the best, Tony